2010 CADILLAC ESCALADE Owners Manual

Driving Uphill
Once you decide it is safe to drive up the hill:
.Use a low gear and get a firm grip on thesteering wheel.
.Get a smooth start up the hill and try to maintainspeed. Not using more power than needed canavoid spinning the wheels or sliding.
{WARNING:
Turning or driving across steep hills can be
dangerous. You could lose traction, slide
sideways, and possibly roll over. You could be
seriously injured or killed. When driving up hills,
always try to go straight up.
.Try to drive straight up the hill if at all possible.If the path twists and turns, you might want to findanother route.
.Ease up on the speed as you approach the top ofthe hill.
.Attach a flag to the vehicle to be more visible toapproaching traffic on trails or hills.
.Sound the horn as you approach the top of the hillto let opposing traffic know you are there.
.Use headlamps even during the day to make thevehicle more visible to oncoming traffic.
{WARNING:
Driving to the top (crest) of a hill at full speed can
cause an accident. There could be a drop-off,
embankment, cliff, or even another vehicle. You
could be seriously injured or killed. As you near
the top of a hill, slow down and stay alert.
If the vehicle stalls, or is about to stall, and you cannotmake it up the hill:
.Push the brake pedal to stop the vehicle andkeep it from rolling backwards and apply theparking brake.
.If the engine is still running, shift the transmissionto R (Reverse), release the parking brake, andslowly back down the hill in R (Reverse).
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.If the engine has stopped running, you need torestart it. With the brake pedal pressed and theparking brake still applied, shift the transmissionto P (Park) and restart the engine. Then, shift toR (Reverse), release the parking brake, andslowly back down the hill as straight as possiblein R (Reverse).
.While backing down the hill, put your left handon the steering wheel at the 12 o'clock positionso you can tell if the wheels are straight and canmaneuver as you back down. It is best to backdown the hill with the wheels straight rather thanin the left or right direction. Turning the wheel toofar to the left or right will increase the possibilityof a rollover.
Things not to do if the vehicle stalls, or is about to stall,when going up a hill:
.Never attempt to prevent a stall by shifting intoN (Neutral) to rev-up the engine and regain forwardmomentum. This will not work. The vehicle can rollbackward very quickly and could go out of control.
.Never try to turn around if about to stall whengoing up a hill. If the hill is steep enough to stallthe vehicle, it is steep enough to cause it to rollover. If you cannot make it up the hill, back straightdown the hill.
If, after stalling, you try to back down the hill and decideyou just cannot do it, set the parking brake, put yourtransmission in P (Park), and turn off the engine. Leavethe vehicle and go get some help. Exit on the uphill sideand stay clear of the path the vehicle would take if itrolled downhill.
Driving Downhill
When off-roading takes you downhill, consider:
.How steep is the downhill? Will I be able tomaintain vehicle control?
.What is the surface like? Smooth? Rough?Slippery? Hard-packed dirt? Gravel?
.Are there hidden surface obstacles? Ruts? Logs?Boulders?
.What is at the bottom of the hill? Is there a hiddencreek bank or even a river bottom with largerocks?
If you decide you can go down a hill safely, try to keepthe vehicle headed straight down. Use a low gear soengine drag can help the brakes so they do not have todo all the work. Descend slowly, keeping the vehicleunder control at all times.
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{WARNING:
Heavy braking when going down a hill can cause
your brakes to overheat and fade. This could
cause loss of control and a serious accident.
Apply the brakes lightly when descending a
hill and use a low gear to keep vehicle speed
under control.
Things not to do when driving down a hill:
.When driving downhill, avoid turns that take youacross the incline of the hill. A hill that is not toosteep to drive down might be too steep to driveacross. The vehicle could roll over.
.Never go downhill with the transmission inN (Neutral), called free-wheeling. The brakes willhave to do all the work and could overheatand fade.
Vehicles are much more likely to stall when going uphill,but if it happens when going downhill:
1. Stop the vehicle by applying the regular brakesand apply the parking brake.
2. Shift to P (Park) and, while still braking, restartthe engine.
3. Shift back to a low gear, release the parking brake,and drive straight down.
4. If the engine will not start, get out and get help.
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Driving Across an Incline
An off-road trail will probably go across the incline of ahill. To decide whether to try to drive across the incline,consider the following:
{WARNING:
Driving across an incline that is too steep
will make your vehicle roll over. You could be
seriously injured or killed. If you have any doubt
about the steepness of the incline, do not drive
across it. Find another route instead.
.A hill that can be driven straight up or downmight be too steep to drive across. When goingstraight up or down a hill, the length of the wheelbase—the distance from the front wheels to therear wheels—reduces the likelihood the vehiclewill tumble end over end. But when driving acrossan incline, the narrower track width—the distancebetween the left and right wheels—might notprevent the vehicle from tilting and rolling over.Driving across an incline puts more weight on thedownhill wheels which could cause a downhill slideor a rollover.
.Surface conditions can be a problem. Loosegravel, muddy spots, or even wet grass cancause the tires to slip sideways, downhill. If thevehicle slips sideways, it can hit something thatwill trip it—a rock, a rut, etc.—and roll over.
.Hidden obstacles can make the steepness of theincline even worse. If you drive across a rock withthe uphill wheels, or if the downhill wheels dropinto a rut or depression, the vehicle can tilteven more.
For these reasons, carefully consider whether to try todrive across an incline. Just because the trail goesacross the incline does not mean you have to drive it.The last vehicle to try it might have rolled over.
If you feel the vehicle starting to slide sideways, turndownhill. This should help straighten out the vehicle andprevent the side slipping. The best way to prevent thisis to“walk the course”first, so you know what thesurface is like before driving it.
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Stalling on an Incline
{WARNING:
Getting out on the downhill (low) side of a vehicle
stopped across an incline is dangerous. If the
vehicle rolls over, you could be crushed or killed.
Always get out on the uphill (high) side of the
vehicle and stay well clear of the rollover path.
If the vehicle stalls when crossing an incline, be sureyou, and any passengers, get out on the uphill side,even if the door there is harder to open. If you get outon the downhill side and the vehicle starts to roll over,you will be right in its path.
If you have to walk down the slope, stay out of the paththe vehicle will take if it does roll over.
Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow, or Ice
When you drive in mud, snow, or sand, the wheelsdo not get good traction. Acceleration is not asquick, turning is more difficult, and braking distancesare longer.
It is best to use a low gear when in mud—thedeeper the mud, the lower the gear. In really deep mud,keep the vehicle moving so it does not get stuck.
When driving on sand, wheel traction changes.On loosely packed sand, such as on beaches orsand dunes, the tires will tend to sink into the sand.This affects steering, accelerating, and braking.Drive at a reduced speed and avoid sharp turns orabrupt maneuvers.
Hard packed snow and ice offer the worst tire traction.On these surfaces, it is very easy to lose control. Onwet ice, for example, the traction is so poor that you willhave difficulty accelerating. And, if the vehicle does getmoving, poor steering and difficult braking can cause itto slide out of control.
{WARNING:
Driving on frozen lakes, ponds, or rivers can be
dangerous. Underwater springs, currents under
the ice, or sudden thaws can weaken the ice. Your
vehicle could fall through the ice and you and your
passengers could drown. Drive your vehicle on
safe surfaces only.
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Driving in Water
{WARNING:
Driving through rushing water can be dangerous.
Deep water can sweep your vehicle downstream
and you and your passengers could drown. If it is
only shallow water, it can still wash away the
ground from under your tires, and you could lose
traction and roll the vehicle over. Do not drive
through rushing water.
Heavy rain can mean flash flooding, and flood watersdemand extreme caution.
Find out how deep the water is before driving throughit. Do not try it if it is deep enough to cover the wheelhubs, axles, or exhaust pipe—you probably will not getthrough. Deep water can damage the axle and othervehicle parts.
If the water is not too deep, drive slowly through it.At faster speeds, water splashes on the ignition systemand the vehicle can stall. Stalling can also occur if youget the tailpipe under water. If the tailpipe is underwater, you will never be able to start the engine. Whengoing through water, remember that when the brakesget wet, it might take longer to stop. SeeDriving in Rainand on Wet Roads on page 6!25.
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has collectedon the underbody, chassis, or under the hood.These accumulations can be a fire hazard.
After operation in mud or sand, have the brake liningscleaned and checked. These substances can causeglazing and uneven braking. Check the body structure,steering, suspension, wheels, tires, and exhaust systemfor damage and check the fuel lines and cooling systemfor any leakage.
The vehicle requires more frequent service due tooff-road use. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule foradditional information.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day drivingbecause some drivers are likely to be impaired—byalcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or byfatigue.
Night driving tips include:
.Drive defensively.
.Do not drink and drive.
.Reduce headlamp glare by adjusting the insiderearview mirror.
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.Slow down and keep more space between you andother vehicles because headlamps can only lightup so much road ahead.
.Watch for animals.
.When tired, pull off the road.
.Do not wear sunglasses.
.Avoid staring directly into approaching headlamps.
.Keep the windshield and all glass on your vehicleclean—inside and out.
.Keep your eyes moving, especially during turnsor curves.
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime.But, as we get older, these differences increase.A 50-year-old driver might need at least twice as muchlight to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce vehicle traction andaffect your ability to stop and accelerate. Always driveslower in these types of driving conditions and avoiddriving through large puddles and deep!standing orflowing water.
{WARNING:
Wet brakes can cause crashes. They might not
work as well in a quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could lose control of
the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle of water or a
car/vehicle wash, lightly apply the brake pedal
until the brakes work normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates strong forces.
Driving through flowing water could cause your
vehicle to be carried away. If this happens, you
and other vehicle occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be very cautious about
trying to drive through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water can build up underyour vehicle's tires so they actually ride on the water.This can happen if the road is wet enough and youare going fast enough. When your vehicle ishydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about hydroplaning.The best advice is to slow down when the road is wet.
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Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet weather drivingtips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
.Pass with caution.
.Keep windshield wiping equipment in good shape.
.Keep the windshield washer fluid reservoir filled.
.Have good tires with proper tread depth.SeeTires on page 7!58.
.Turn off cruise control.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
To prepare your vehicle for a long trip, consider havingit serviced by your dealer/retailer before departing.
Things to check on your own include:
.Windshield Washer Fluid:Reservoir full?Windows clean—inside and outside?
.Wiper Blades:In good shape?
.Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:All levels checked?
.Lamps:Do they all work and are lenses clean?
.Tires:Are treads good? Are tires inflated torecommended pressure?
.Weather and Maps:Safe to travel?Have up-to-date maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Always be alert and pay attention to your surroundingswhile driving. If you become tired or sleepy, find a safeplace to park your vehicle and rest.
Other driving tips include:
.Keep the vehicle well ventilated.
.Keep interior temperature cool.
.Keep your eyes moving—scan the roadahead and to the sides.
.Check the rearview mirror and vehicleinstruments often.
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